pry 1
/pruy/ , v. , pried, prying , n. , pl. pries .
v.i.
1. to inquire impertinently or unnecessarily into something: to pry into the personal affairs of others.
2. to look closely or curiously; peer; peep.
n.
3. an impertinently inquisitive person.
4. an act of prying.
[ 1275-1325; ME pryen, prien ]
pry 2
/pruy/ , v. , pried, prying , n. , pl. pries .
v.t.
1. to move, raise, or open by leverage.
2. to get, separate, or ferret out with difficulty: to pry a secret out of someone; We finally pried them away from the TV.
n.
3. a tool, as a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage.
4. the leverage exerted.
[ 1800-10; back formation from PRIZE 3 , taken as a pl. n. or 3rd pers. sing. verb ]